Bob Hawke, Australia's 23rd prime minister, dies aged 89

Bob Hawke, Australia's 23rd prime minister and Labor Party legend, has died at the age of 89.

Key points:

Bob Hawke was prime minister from 1983 to 1991, making him the longest-serving Labor PM

He is survived by wife Blanche d'Alpuget, and his three children — Susan, Stephen and Rosslyn

Current party leader Bill Shorten said Mr Hawke was the labour movement's "greatest son"

Mr Hawke led the country and his party from 1983 to 1991, and his contribution to public life helped shape modern Australia.

A great conciliator, Mr Hawke's achievements as prime minister included modernising the economy and integrating it into the global community, establishing Medicare, and championing environmental issues.

He won four federal elections, making him Labor's longest-serving prime minister and Australia's third-longest-serving prime minister behind Robert Menzies and John Howard.

Mr Hawke is survived by his wife and biographer Blanche d'Alpuget, and his three children — Susan, Stephen and Rosslyn.

Ms d'Alpuget released a statement saying "he died peacefully at home" and that his children, stepson Louis, and his grandchildren would hold a private funeral ahead of a memorial service in Sydney in the coming weeks.

"Bob possessed a moral framework for his important public life, both representing the workers of Australia and more broadly, the country at large," Mr Keating said in a statement.

"He understood that imagination was central to policy-making and never lacked the courage to do what had to be done to turn that imagination into reality.

"And that reality was the reformation of Australia's economy and society and its place in the world."

Mr Hawke was too ill to attend the launch of the Labor Party's election campaign earlier this month, but Mr Keating said they had spoken about their support for Mr Shorten at the upcoming election, describing it as their "last collaboration".

"Bob, of course, was hoping for a Labor victory this weekend. His friends too, were hoping he would see this," Mr Keating wrote.

Fellow former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd joined the chorus of voices mourning the Labor legend.

"Bob Hawke is a giant of Australian politics," Mr Rudd said.

WA Governor and former federal Labor leader, Kim Beazley, said the country had "lost a really great Australian".

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said it was a terrible loss to Australia and WA.

"I'm very sad that Bob is gone, he was one of the heroic figures of my lifetime and I always appreciated his advice and support," Mr McGowan said.

Before becoming prime minister, Mr Hawke served as president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) from 1969 to 1980.

The current leaders of the ACTU said "millions of working people owe their health, prosperity and dignity in retirement" to him.

ACTU secretary Sally McManus and president Michele O'Neil described him as "a hero to working people".

Barrie Cassidy on Hawke's 'special place in history'

Insiders host Barrie Cassidy, who worked as Mr Hawke's press secretary in the 1980s, said the former PM would have a special place in history, not only as the longest-serving Labor prime minister, but also as an economic reformer.

"Together with Paul Keating, he did open up the economy to the world and that has been well documented," Cassidy said.